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Muddy Waters early in his career

McKinley "Muddy Waters" Morganfield


The Beginning:
It is speculated that this known Legend was birthed April 4th, 1913 in Jug's Corner Issaquena County, Mississippi. Muddy's mother (Berta Grant), died shortly after his birth, so he was raised by his Grandmother Della Grant. She began calling McKinley "Mud" at a very young age because he loved to play in the mud, the name simply escalated as he grew older. Muddy's father was an entertainer around the area of Mississippi named Ollie Morganfield. In the 1950's, Muddy took his band to meet his father and he was blown away. Merely 32 when Muddy was born, Della Grant packed their belongings & moved 80 miles North to the Stovall Plantation in Coahoma County, Mississippi. On the Stovall Plantation, Muddy launched his recording career for the Library of Congress under the name Stovall's Famous Guitar Picker". He started off his with Alan Lomax & the Library of Congress, from which he spawned the records "Can't Be Satisfied" & "Feel Like Going Home". In the 1940's Muddy Moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue a career in the entertainment business. He began to say that he was born in 1915 to appear younger in the music business.

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Muddy at One of his many shows

Chicago:By 1946, Muddy had gathered the attention of handful of record producers. He worked with J. Mayo Williams, a black independent producer, & He also recorded for Lester Melrose, a publishing big shot and talent scouter for Columbia Records & RCA (who controlled Bluebird, the popular blues label). The tracks he recorded were held by Columbia for decades.


He then began his endeavors with Artistocrat Records, owned in half by Leonard Chess . Their early sessions weren't very lucrative, but it builded a relationship that would last until Chess' Death. Into the early 70's, Aristocrat had undergone double ownership changes as it began to become known. In later sessions Muddy reprised “Can’t Be Satisfied” and “Feel Like Going Home,” with electric guitar instead of acoustic, and with an upbeat tempo. The songs had a new feeling. The single sold out its first weekend and Muddy Waters had his first taste of stardom

Linking up with Jimmy Rogers, who would become his guitarist, & Little Walter , his harmonica player. This powerful trio developed a newer urban blues sound that became popular in the nightclubs. Dubbing themselves the Headhunters, they’d roam the South Side on their off nights, Challenging other bands gig's, and gaining new fans. This Is where he began to become a star.
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Hoochie Coochie Man

Career Facts:

Grammy's

1971-Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Record They Call Me Muddy Waters
1972-Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Record The London Muddy Woodstock Album
1977-Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Record Hard Again
1978-Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Record I'm Ready
1979-Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Record Muddy Mississippi Waters Live

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Listed Songs

1950-
Rollin' Stone
1954-Hoochie Coochie Man
1955-Mannish Boy
1957-I Got My Mojo Working

Muddy was inducted into the:

Blues Foundation Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award//

Muddy Waters Known As The Father of Blues Died April 30,1983. He stands today as one of the most influential artist of all time, He will forever reign as the King of Blues. Black_History_Project_pics_(Muddy_Waters_2-28-10).jpg_#4.jpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9091561368331504755&ei=DUGPS9H1G5fSqgL7vdmkBg&q=hoochie+coochie+man&hl=en#docid=4828425597513140481